Editorial

Let’s ensure Nassau County a healthy future

Posted

After almost 20 years in development, ground is about to be broken on a nearly $1 billion mixed-use project on waterfront property along Garvies Point in Glen Cove, which will bring new commercial space, residences and parks to the Gold Coast city. Environmental hazards slowed the project down when permits were granted in 2008.

Now, Glen Cove is poised to become a major hub for young professionals and families looking to set down roots in Nassau County.

These days, there are few areas on Long Island that attract young people. One of them is Rockville Centre, with its downtown area bustling with shops, bars and restaurants. Others include Long Beach, Farmingdale and Huntington. They all boast mixed-use zoning, with commercial properties at street level and residential units above. They also have transit-oriented housing, and they are all thriving.

This is what happens when you have forward-thinking people making zoning decisions that have positive impacts on their communities. Too often, zoning boards stifle growth by limiting properties’ potential or by delaying the approval of development in areas that have the potential to become vibrant. Designating areas near transit strictly commercial, for example, limits that potential. This has happened in Elmont, as unused land at Belmont Park, near a train station, has been zoned exclusively for commercial use. The decision, by the Empire State Development Corporation, has frustrated residents who want to see the area thrive not only economically, but culturally as well.

There’s a good, contrasting example of proper zoning in Mineola, which has created a health care hub, centered on the village’s train station, featuring restaurants, apartments and retail space. Making the most of the large number of people who work at Winthrop University Hospital, the surrounding area has become a template for other transit-oriented areas in Nassau County.

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